Oak Ridge commissioners again call for ‘compromise’ against ‘divisiveness’

The issue of placing “In God We Trust” signs on the Anderson County Courthouse will be discussed again Monday night, and two Anderson County commissioners from Oak Ridge are again letting their opinions be known.

The issue of placing “In God We Trust” signs on the Anderson County Courthouse will be discussed again Monday night, and two Anderson County commissioners from Oak Ridge are again letting their opinions be known.

In guest columns sent to The Oak Ridger, and printed in their entirety on today’s Opinion page, commissioners Jerry Creasey and Myron Iwanski write of divisiveness in the community over the issue and the need for compromise — which both also talked about at last month’s County Commission meeting.

Iwanski asks for “compromise,” which he says some ministers he’s talked to also agree upon, by placing four separate mottos above the four exterior doors of the Courthouse.

“In God We Trust” would be only one of the mottos used.

Iwanski made an amendment to this effect at last month’s Operations Committee meeting, but it was rejected by a Commission vote.

Creasey likens the divisiveness, differences of opinion, and issues of legality and right and wrong to segregation between whites and blacks.

He reminds county residents that the “In God We Trust” issue will be discussed at both this month’s Operations Committee meeting — set for 6 p.m. Monday — and the full County Commission meeting at 9:30 a.m. April 15.

Both meetings will be held in Room 312 at the Courthouse in Clinton.

At Monday’s Operations Committee meeting, the commissioners will discuss the “In God We Trust” signs appearance. The Operations Committee last month decided to place black-and-white signs with the motto above each exterior door, but commissioners at the full commission meeting talked about the need to make it more aesthetically pleasing and referred the matter back to Operations Committee.

The Commission agreed in February, by a 12-4 vote, to place the national motto of “In God We Trust” above the Courthouse’s exterior doors. Both Creasey and Iwanski opposed the action, along with commissioners Robin Biloski and Harry “Whitey” Hitchcock, who are also of Oak Ridge.